24 Days Southeast Asia Expedition with Mekong River Cruise

Welcome to Siem Reap!

Upon arrival, our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure for recovery.

In the evening about 6:10 pm, your tour guide will pick you up to enjoy the welcome dinner with a sumptuous buffet dinner while enjoying the Khmer traditional dance performance.

After that, you will be escorted to the hotel and have a good rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Siem Reap

 Meals: Dinner

Today, you will get up a little bit early, at about 5:00 am for the sunrise of Angkor Wat, experiencing the breathtaking moment.

After enjoying the sunrise, you will be escorted to the hotel for breakfast and have a little rest. Your guide will pick you up at about 10:00 am to start your Angkor Temple discovery. In the morning, you will visit:

1. Ta Prohm: one of the largest temples built during the Khmer empire, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII.
2. Banteay Kdei: considered to be one of the main groups of temples in the Angkor complex with peaceful and quiet surroundings.

After the lunch at a local Cambodian restaurant, you will continue to visit:

3. Angkor Wat: the 7^th wonder of the world, is a miniature replica of the universe in stone, its beauty and state of preservation is unrivaled.

After the tour, we prepare a Mudita Signature Treatment for you after touring the temples of Angkor Wat, rejuvenate with a spa session in Siem Reap. Using an herbal compress, your masseuse provides a massage treatment that is said to reduce tension and improve energy flow throughout the body.

After that, head to the local night market to explore and enjoy a local dinner at the Pub Street. Then, you will be escorted to your hotel, enjoy your free time, and have a good rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Siem Reap

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, after breakfast, your guide will pick you up at about 9:00 am, heading to the spot for the countryside jeep tour.

Hop aboard an open-air Jeep and explore the countryside around Siem Reap. Drive along dirt trails and country lanes, stop in remote rural villages, and admire views over the rice paddies. Along the way, learn about Cambodian life as you meet the locals, sample bamboo rice cakes, and watch demonstrations of traditional handicrafts such as basket weaving. 

The jeep tour is about 1.5 hours, then you will pay a visit to a Cambodian local family and see what their daily life is like. Then enjoy a local lunch with them.

Take a half-day excursion to the biggest Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake - Tonle Sap Lake. Firstly, tour Kompong Phluk, the largest village on the lake, to discover the fascinating daily lifestyle of the local people who live on the water.

Then, take a boat trip to enjoy the beautiful lake views and mangrove forests.

One of the highlights is to enjoy the beautiful sunset of Tonle Sap Lake, with a beer and a tranquil and serene atmosphere.

Then, back to the Siem Reap downtown, and you will be escorted to the night market and Pub Street, where you will have a nice evening to spend.

After the tour, head back to your hotel for a good rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Siem Reap

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, after breakfast, enjoy your free time until your tour guide pick you up and head to the airport for flight to Pakse. The flight takes about 1 hour.

Welcome to Pakse, the second most popular city in Laos. Upon arrival at Pakse, you’ll be driven to Tad Fan Waterfall, the largest and most amazing waterfall in Laos.

In the afternoon, you’ll keep going on the tour to visit the Alak, Nge, and Katu villages on the Bolavan Plateau. It’s a great experience to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty and observe the cultivation of coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, etc.

After trekking, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the hotel in Pakse for the rest.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Pakse

 Meals: Breakfast

Today, after breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up and drive you to the airport in Pakse. You’ll fly from Pakse to Vientiane, about 1 hour.

Welcome to Vientiane, the largest city and the capital of Laos. You’ll be escorted to the hotel in Vientiane for check-in. The rest of time is for you to explore this calm city.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Vientiane

 Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am – 8:30 am. The day will go through the highlights of Vientiane. You'll stop and visit:

1. Buddha Park: also known as Xieng Khuan, is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues.
2. Patuxay Monument: a monument about the war in Vientiane that honors the people who fought for freedom from France.
3. Pha That Luang Stupa: a huge Buddhist stupa covered in gold and constructed in the 3^rd century.

Enjoying a local Laotian lunch, you’ll continue your Vientiane day tour in the afternoon:

4. Wat Si Saket: the oldest surviving temple with thousands of Buddhist images.
5. National Museum: get to know some history of Laos. 

After the tour, your tour guide will escort you to the hotel for a good rest. 

Accommodation: Overnight in Vientiane

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, you’ll take a flight to Luang Prabang after enjoying breakfast. It will take about 45 minutes.

Welcome to Luang Prabang, the charming town in northern Laos, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore its serene streets, adorned with temples and colonial architecture, and soak in the rich culture at vibrant night markets. Luang Prabang awaits with its unique charm and tranquility!

Upon your arrival in Luang Prabang, your private local tour guide will welcome you in the airport and then escort you to your hotel in Luang Prabang city.

Accommodation: Overnight in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at 8:00 am – 8:30 am to start the day of the Luang Prabang city tour. In the morning, you will visit:

1. Royal Palace Museum: once served as the residence of King Sisavang Vong and was designed in the French Beaux-Arts style with many interesting artifacts of traditional Lao culture.
2. Wat Sene: the oldest temple of Luang Prabang.
3. Wat Xiengthong: its roofs sweep low to the ground and represent classical Laotian architecture.
4. Wat Visoun: the oldest Buddhist temple and the city’s museum of religious arts.
5. Wat Aham: the monastery of the blossoming heart.

After a tasty local lunch at about 11:00 am, you’ll go on your half-day tour to the beautiful Kuang(Khouang) Si Waterfall.

1. Bear Rescue Sanctuary: three bear houses were built with a capacity for 25 rescued bears.
2. Khouang Si Waterfall: the most beautiful in Laos. You can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

After the tour, your tour guide will escort you to enjoy a Lao-style spa and get relaxed. Then, you will get back to the hotel for a good rest. 

 Accommodation: Overnight in Luang Prabang

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy your breakfast until your tour guide pick you up and drive you to the port in Luang Prabang. Today, you’ll go on a Mekong River cruise join in a 2 days 1 night Mekong River Cruise to explore the authentic Laos along this vast waterway.

The first stop is Whisky Village (Ban Xanghai village), a village renowned for its traditional production of Lao rice whisky, a local alcoholic beverage. You can witness the traditional methods of making rice whisky, and purchase locally crafted whisky as a souvenir.

Cruise to the Pak Ou Caves and lunch will be served near the caves. You'll try a local Laotian dish called "Orlam" which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible.

In the afternoon, you’ll tour to Pak Ou Caves after enjoying breakfast on board. It is two linked caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

As the evening comes, we take you back to the Mekong River Cruise so you can soak in the stunning tropical sunset from the deck. Dinner will be served while the boat gradually stops for the night at Pak Beng Village.

Accommodation: Overnight on the cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Keeping cruising westward, you’ll visit a Ban Houa Phalam (Kamu village), a traditional riverside village offer picturesque views and laid-back atmosphere. Immerse yourself in the local community, gaining insights into their daily lives and partake in age-old traditions like rice farming and traditional fishing.

Enjoy your lunch on Mekong River Cruise with Laotian traditional lunch set. And continue your luxury cruise to Huay Xai.

The cruise finishes at a relaxing afternoon. After disembarking, your tour guide will escort you to Huay Xai Laos immigration border. You’ll take a shuttle bus to Chiang Khong immigration office through the Friendship Bridge #4.

Welcome to Chiang Khong! This charming town, nestled along the banks of the Mekong River. As you stroll through the charming streets, you'll encounter a delightful fusion of traditional Thai hospitality and the laid-back atmosphere that defines Chiang Khong.

Upon arrival, you will be escorted to the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure for recovery.

 Accommodation: Overnight in Chiang Khong

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, after breakfast, you'll take a 80-minute driving to Chiang Rai to explore the highlight of eastern Thailand- Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle is a mysterious region for most of Indochina tourists. Today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the heart of the Golden Triangle region.

After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you around 8:00 am and take you to the Long Neck Karen village. The Long Neck Hill tribe people are relocated from the Thai and Myanmar border.

And then, you will go to Mt. Doi Mae Salong to visit the Chinese village on the top of the mountain.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After a short break, you will continue the trip to the highest peak on the Thai-Myanmar border in the afternoon:

1. Doi Tung: provides an opportunity to view many different Lahu and Akha villages as well as terraced farming areas and see from a distance the Princess Mother's frigid flower Garden.
2. Doi Tung Temple: built in A.D.1493, located at the peak. Its scenery reminds one of Switzerland, and features many unique images and temple architecture overlooking the entire northern rice field plain.
3. Opium Museum: learn more about the region’s opium trade.

After the tour, return to the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure.

Accommodation: Overnight in Chiang Rai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will be leaving for Chiang Mai. After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am. During the drive to Chiang Mai, you’ll visit:

1. Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple): recognizable for its brilliant shade of rich sapphire.
2. Baan Dam (Black House): a special art museum with both old-style Thai buildings and new, unusual designs.

After lunch at a local restaurant, your Chiang Mai tour continues. In the afternoon, you’ll visit:

1. Mae Kachan Hot Spring: hot water geysers; bathe feet in thermal water; boil quail eggs.
2. Meow Hill Tribe Village: located on the Mountain Doi Pui and once famous for opium cultivation.
3. Wat Rong Khun (White Temple): it's all white and has shiny pieces of glass that glimmer in the sunlight.

Welcome to Chiang Mai, a delightful city nestled in northern Thailand, celebrated for its rich culture and stunning natural beauty. Upon your arrival, your tour guide will escort you to the hotel for check-in.

If time is avaliable, here comes our most popular tour-street food tour. Your tour guide will pick you up at the hotel in Chiang Mai between 18:30-19:00 and drop you off there at approximately 21:30.

Evening Street Food Markets: trying out some northern Thai delicacies and learning how to order food in Thai.

Accommodation: Overnight in Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will be picked up by our guide at 7:30 am – 8:00 am, to enjoy a full-day visit to Elephant Nature Park, which is a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffalos, and other rescued animals.

Watch the saved elephants in two different places where they live together with their friends. You can learn about their stories. Besides, you could get a cool view of the small groups of elephants from SkyWalk.

1. 'Hands Off' Project: This is where elephants freely roam together, and you can see them from the SkyWalk, which is a special viewing spot.
2. Watch the Herd: Take a walk in the park to see the elephants in their groups. You'll also learn their stories and what they need.
3. See Them Socialize: Watch the elephants hang out together, play in the mud, or roll in the sand after they've had a bath in the river.
4. Visit Rescued Animals: You can visit the Dog Project and Cat Kingdom to learn about the saved dogs and cats. Besides, you can meet other saved animals in the park.

Enjoy a tasty buffet with vegan food from Asia and the West. At 3:30 pm, it's time to say bye to the elephants. Then, we'll drive you back to your hotel or guesthouse in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation: Overnight in Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, after breakfast, your tour guide will meet you from 8:00 am to 8:30 am and take you to Doi Inthanon National Park, which is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, famous for its beautiful waterfalls, picturesque landscape, and Thailand culture. 

Upon arrival in the park, it’s time to have a local Thai lunch, after a short rest, you’ll visit:

1. Wachirathan Waterfall: one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand
2. Sirithan Waterfall: a centrally-located falls in Doi Inthanon National Park, dropping a total of 40 meters into the river.
3. Grand Pagoda Nabhapolbhumisiri: the great holy relics pagoda.
4. Ang Ka Nature Trail: 2500 meters above sea level and surrounded by hi evergreen forest.
5. Ban Mae Klang Luang: a S’gaw Karen village in Doi Inthanon National Park.

After the end of the tour, you’ll be driven back to Chiang Mai for about 1.5 hours. You could have a rest in your hotel.

Accommodation: Overnight in Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy your breakfast until your tour guide escorts you to take the flight from Luang Prabang to Bangkok, which takes 65 minutes.

Welcome to Bangkok! Upon arrival, our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is free for you.

Accommodation: Overnight in Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your breakfast in Bangkok and prepare to enjoy a full day’s Bangkok city’s exploration. In the morning, you will visit:

1. Wat Phra Kawe & the Grand Palace: a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam.
2. Ride like a Local by tuk-tuk to Wat Pho temple

Then, have a nice local lunch after the long morning tour, and have a short break.

In the afternoon, explore the city’s renowned klongs(canals) by boat and cruise the Chao Phraya River. Also, visit the following two sites:

1. Wat Arun: one of the most visited temples in all of Thailand
2. Royal Barge Museum: many exhibitions on Thai history, royalty, and Buddhism.

After the tour, you will be escorted to a spa center to enjoy one-hour traditional Thailand massage to relax your senses. The go back to your hotel to have a good rest. 

Accommodation: Overnight in Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, after your breakfast at your hotel, you'll be going to a place a little farther away from downtown Bangkok. Around 1-hour drive, you’ll get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Then you’ll be driven to Kanchanaburi.

1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: experience the traditional Thai market with numerous vendors selling local foods, fruits, and products from their boats.
2. Kanchanaburi: learn about the region’s storied past and present-day culture.
3. Death Railway: built during WWII, made famous by the book and movie The Bridge on the River Kwai.
4. Thailand-Burma Railway Center: learn more history about the Death Railway.

Today, carriages still go on the tracks, taking travelers through the fields of sugar cane and rice terraces. After the tour, your tour guide will escort you back to the hotel in Bangkok. You can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Overnight in Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you tour guide will pick you up to the airport in Bangkok. You’ll take a flight to Mandalay, about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Welcome to Mandalay! Upon your arrival in Mandalay, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is the free time for you.

Accommodation: Overnight in Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast

After enjoying your breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Mandalay at 7:30 am to 8:00 am. You’ll take a drive to Mingun, located 11 km up the Ayeyarwady River on the west bank from Mandalay. From here, you will explore the historic sites around Mandalay. In Mingun, you’ll visit:

1. Mingun Bell: the world's largest uncracked bell.
2. Pahtodawgyi Pagoda: the world's largest pile of bricks.
3. Myatheindan Pagoda: It's white and looks like the mythical Buddhist Mountain called Mount Meru.

You’ll then continue to Sagaing, the ancient capital of the Shan and Myanmar Kingdoms. Uncountable white-and-gold stupas are highlights of Sagaing. Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. You’ll visit Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda on the tranquil Sagaing Hill.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Sagaing. Crossing a bridge over the Irrawaddy River, you’ll take a horse cart to explore the ruins of the old royal capital.

1. 27m tall leaning tower.
2. Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery: built of brick in traditional style with elaborated stucco ornamentations that look like carvings.
3. Bargaya Monastery: a splendid teak wood monastery with wood carving.

Your last destination today is the Amarapura, the royal capital of Myanmar twice. In Amarapura, you’ll visit:

1. Mahargandaryon Monastery: the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar.
2. U Bein Bridge: exploring the local way of life and enjoying the sunset.
3. Weaving Workshop: weaving is the main business of Amarapura people.

After the tour, you will be escorted to the hotel, enjoy your free time, and have a good rest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, after breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up at 8:00 – 8:30 am to have a half-day Mandalay tour. You will visit remarkable sights like:

1. The Golden Palace Monastery: famous for its exquisite wood carvings.
2. Kuthodaw Pagoda: housing the “Biggest book in the World”.
3. Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda: famous for its huge Marble Buddha.

After a local lunch and take a break, you’ll be transferred by private van to Bagan. The total distance is 112 miles and will take about 3 hours. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel for check-in.

Arrive in late afternoon, you can enjoy a fun horse cart ride to a little village called Taung Phi for a view of a teak monastery. Keep riding in the horse cart around temples and winding roads, while the sun moves toward the horizon, making interesting shadows from the temples on the ground. You’ll visit Shesandaw Pagoda and watch one of the best sunsets in Southeast Asia.

Accommodation: Overnight in Bagan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you need to get up early at 5:00 am to experience a beautiful hot air balloon flight over Bagan’s temples. 

Drifting over a panorama of a thousand ancient pagodas, silent in the shadow of low-slung mountains and against the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy River, you will have a wonderful overhead perspective of Bagan. It's a fantastic and interactive experience.

The entire experience will last about 2.5 hours. On landing, our fully trained Myanmar ground crew will pack the balloon whilst passengers enjoy a glass or two of celebratory champagne. You’ll receive a flight certificate signed by the pilot.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, you have free time on your own until your tour guide picks you up at 1:00 pm-1:30 pm to Mount Popa.

1. Mount Popa: a dormant volcano in central Myanmar and the highest point of the Pegu Range.
2. Popa Taungkalat Monastery: a special monastery high up on a big rocky hill, offering beautiful views of the fields nearby and Mount Popa.
3. Nat Shrine: mannequin-like figures representing the 37 Nats, which is dedicated to animist spirits.

Note: You need to climb 777 steps to get to Popa Taungkalat Monastery. If you don’t want to do that, you can choose to visit the sandalwood forest and medical herb garden with plenty of flora and fauna.

After touring Mount Popa, a stop will be made at a palm tree plantation on the way back to the hotel in Bagan. Villagers earn money from these palm trees. It's a nice break where you can watch them work with palm trees.

Accommodation: Overnight in Bagan

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your free time in the morning until the tour guide drives you to Nyaung U Airport. You’ll take a flight to Yangon, about 1 hours and 25 minutes.

Welcome to Yangon!

Our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport upon arrival. You will be escorted to the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure for recovery.

Accommodation: Overnight in Yangon

Meals: Breakfast

After morning breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up at 8:30 am to Yangon Railway Station. Taking the local circular train journey to the outskirts of town (20-30 minutes ride).

1. Circular train journey: observing the lively and colorful life of the rural Burmese people.
2. Kyi Myin Daing Market: a variety of street vendors sell colorful wares, where you can explore the market and meet friendly locals.

Go back to the downtown area of Yangon to enjoy Myanmar cuisine. You’ll continue your tour in the afternoon. You’ll explore:

1. Old City Hall: A well-balanced blend of Western and Burmese architectural styles, listed on the Yangon City Heritage List.
2. Botahtaung Pagoda: features golden decorations inside and houses a sacred hair of Gautama Buddha.
3. Bogyoke Market: sells many Burmese traditional handicrafts including stone, wood, bronze carvings, and much more.
4. Kandawgyi Park: famous Karaweik, a concrete replica of a Burmese royal barge built in 1972, near Chaukhtetgyi Reclining Buddha Image.
5. Shwedagon Pagoda: an important Buddist icon, which has been described as one of the wonders of the world, plays a very important role in old Burmese history.

Enjoy the sunset over the Shwedagon pagoda, and then you’ll get back to the hotel for a good rest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Yangon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy your breakfast and free time in the morning until your tour guide picks you up to the airport. Tour service ends here.

Hope you enjoyed a great trip with us and we look forward to seeing you next time.

Note: If you’re planning to continue exploring the Indochina region, like Vietnam, please never hesitate to tell us, we’re tour experts for all of these destinations.

 Accommodation: NA

 Meals: Breakfast